Hindi cinema is in dire need of course-correction with regional films superseding linguistic barriers to be hailed as mass favourites amongst cinephiles and it's been a huge order to live upto, so far. Thankfully, the makers of Amazon Prime Video's latest feature 'Sherni' rope in the good graces of Vidya Balan to lead the frontier and deliver a fascinating tale of co-existence, without much noise.

Playing the Divisional Forest Officer, who is tasked off to the jungles of central India, Vidya Vincent (Balan) is expected to tackle the situation of a village ravaged by a man-eating tigress. The challenges are aplenty. She needs to pacify panic-stricken villagers while seeking their co-operation to help her and her motley crew of forest officials in tracking the movements of the big cat. Her only strive is to do her job efficiently and seamlessly, even as several stakeholders are waiting to be the thorns in her path. From opportunistic politicians, lethargic bureaucrats, the unsettling expectations from her own married life and condescending male colleagues who are sniggering at her credentials, Vincent must brave them all to find her way through the chaos.

Directed by Amit Masurkar, who previously helmed the Rajkummar Rao-Pankaj Tripathi starrer 'Newton', 'Sherni', inspired from the real-life incident based on Tigress Avni, who was shot dead in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district in November 2018, is cut from the same cloth where satire is used to strike a larger conversation. Written by Aastha Tiku, Masurkar and co-writer Yashasvi Mishra smartly weave pertinent questions around the co-existence between man and nature and how the two are inter-dependent. Additionally, the tigress proves to be symbolic for women seeking autonomy in a world that grants immense power and privilege to men. While the animal is battling for survival, it's human counterpart must navigate her way through a bureaucracy plagued with corruption, prejudice and incompetence to ensure her job is carried out by fair means. Rakesh Haridas' frames perfectly capture the rusticity and wilderness of central India. For those looking for a gripping thriller with chest-thumping drama, the lack of it can prove to be testing. Here, editor Dipika Kalra could've trimmed the film down sizeably by a few minutes. The lone track, 'Bandar Baant' by Bandish Projekt, is smartly infused as an allegory of life and times in rural India.

'Sherni' largely benefits from an unflinching performance by Balan. Her act is restrained and does not necessarily feel the need to cry foul about the prevalent gender disparity. Rather, she uses her calm and composed demeanour to create impact. Even when she is not on the job, Balan's Vincent does not feel the need to adhere to the accepted behavioural patterns of women and is clear about her choices. She does not want children from her marriage nor does she like to doll up and will sip her whiskey with grace. Unlike Sulochana from 'Tumhari Sulu' or Shakuntala Devi, Vincent isn't a ray of sunshine yet Balan infuses her with a spark that leaves you rooting for her.

She is ably supported by a remarkable Vijay Raaz, who is composed and emphatic as the zoology professor. Brijendra Kala as Vincent's boss Bansal is pitch-perfect as the slimy official who shies away from accountability. Sharat Saxena plays the reputed hunter Pintu Bhaiyya with the right amount of snoot and arrogance. Neeraj Kabi is well-suited as the veteran forest official Akhil Nangia whom Vincent looks upto. Mukul Chadda as Vincent's husband Pawan, Ila Arun and Suma Mukundan as her mother-in-law and mother respectively, are delightful in the film's lighter portions.

Eventually, 'Sherni' calls us to introspect upon our views over shared humanity with all forms of life, while perfectly encapsulating the wise words by American zoologist Jim Fowler. That the continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.